University of Michigan sees uptick in early applications

According to The Michigan Daily, the school had released roughly 22,000 decisions on early applications by Dec. 24, an increase of 3,000 from the year before.

The growing number of applications is making early acceptance more competitive.

“The quality of the applicant pool remains strong even with the increase in applications, making our decisions even more difficult,” Erica Sanders, managing director of undergraduate admissions, told the Daily.

The early action deadline this year was Nov. 1. All other undergraduate applications are due February 1.

Comments

Veracity

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 9:51 p.m.

UNIVERSITIES NEED TO CHANGE THEIR APPROACH TO EDUCATION
Universities originated in antiquity and were initially for the wealthy to while away the time by exercising their minds among other affluent. Preparation for employment was never necessary as a consideration.
Unfortunately, universities have evolved into job preparatory institutions but are not organized to do this successfully. Students are allowed to select major interest areas which they find enjoyable but which are unlikely to provide employment. For example, how many students are enrolled as philosophy majors and how many jobs will be available to them upon receiving their degrees?
Universities need to be able to measure the job opportunities today and predict the needs for tomorrow and apply this information to the type of courses offered to students and the numbers allowed to participate in any one discipline. Such monitoring requires a national co-ordination effort among universities, led by the Department of Education.

Evan Smith

Sat, Jan 12, 2013 : 5:08 a.m.

I'm not quite sure what this has to do with the increase of applications at U-M, but whatever. The students that go to these universities are adults, they can make their own decisions on the matter of their education. I agree, it seems foolish for someone to major in philosophy in this day and age, but why do you think you have the right to tell them what they can or can't major in. It is the responsibility of the student to take job prospects into consideration when they chose their course of study, not the Department of Education.

LXIX

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 8 p.m.

The application numbers will grow for a few more years then drop.
Grow
1. Kids now know the correlation between degree and income. Parent-type middle class opportunities are fading fast (gamer, entrepreneur, skilled trades, unions, company climbing, family farming, etc). High schools are wise to the national numbers game and have restructured to look good over any deep education. Rote testing expertise, extracurricular activities, foreign exposure, and internships all to help their kids meet the college entry bar or drop out.
2. China and somewhat India have a burgeoning middle class looking West. The young professionals are &quot;moving&quot; to acquire the best of both worlds. It starts with an employer-friendly degree from the West. Some of Europe is also &quot;moving&quot; to greener US pastures.
3. The poor economy makes going back to school a wise investment of time in this weak job market.
Drop
1. As the economy improves the number of opportunities will diminish applicants.
2. The US will become more nationalistic and begin to extricate itself from the global economy making foreign relations more tenuous. Largely because of climate change and resource/job competition. The military will restructure into a defensive posture with space as the next high ground to cover. Goodbye Middle East.
3. A custom tailored education done remotely or in specialized lab towns will obsolete the Ivy tradition for most kids.

Kellie Woodhouse

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 3:34 p.m.

Readers, you might find it interesting that for the past few years, the number of applications to U-M has been steadily growing. Here's an article to reference: http://www.annarbor.com/news/university-of-michigan-applications-pacing-for-an-all-time-high-but-admitted-students-should-expect/
It leads one to wonder, will numbers continue to grow? Or do you think there's a point when applications will level out and remain relatively steady?

Dog Guy

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 3:20 p.m.

Few jobs are available for the unskilled and unprepared while borrowing is easy. American kids are optimistic and highly self-esteemed. So many hapless souls are sucked to their doom in Michigan's most powerful educational maelstrom!